NRL Grand Final Preview: Melbourne Storm
Last updated: Sep 27, 2018, 6:50AM | Published: Sep 27, 2018, 5:47AM
The breakup of the 'Big 3' over the summer was enough for some people to announce the end of the Melbourne Storm dynasty.
How wrong were they?
Another season under the mastermind head coach, Craig Bellamy, has ended at the big dance. Despite the doubters way back in March, a win on Sunday will see the Storm become the first back-to-back premiers in the NRL era.
How Did They Get There?
The Storm were riddled with errors throughout the opening rounds. Cronk's absence will have played a role as the spine struggled to gel, but the 5.2 handling errors amongst their 11.8 total errors per game came as a surprise.
Two losses to the Tigers in five weeks and four from their first nine games brought up plenty of questions over their premiership credentials.
But as we now know, there wasn't any need to worry.
Despite the carousel of halfbacks featuring in the 17, the Storm found their feet. The errors have dropped to 9.8 per game since Round 10 while going on to lose only 4 of their next 16 games on the way to Sunday.
Key Factors and Numbers
18.1 points per game - The Storm haven't been the attacking force they were in 2017. They've dropped from 26.3 points per game to 22.6 in 2018. However, points have been even harder to come by over their last five games. Despite facing the Eels, Titans and out of form Panthers within those five games, the Storm have only scored 18.1 points per game since Round 21.
That may be enough to win a Grand Final (which are traditionally low-scoring), but Melbourne will need to ask more questions in attack than they have been if they're to crack the NRL's best defence.
Forced Dropouts - Forcing dropouts to earn repeat sets and build pressure are massively important in close games. With neither team outstanding in the area, whichever side can make the most significant improvement will manufacture a critical advantage.
Life without Cronk is perhaps it's most apparent for the Storm when it comes to kicking.
Cameron Munster leads the way with seven forced dropouts but has eight kick errors to Cronk's 17 and seven. Billy Slater picks up some of the slack with six and Cameron Smith five.
Forcing dropouts is where Brodie Croft can make his mark. Otherwise, out the back letting Munster, Slater and Smith run the show, Croft has five forced dropouts in 11 games - by far the best average of all Storm small men.
